ONE PIECE: THE GREAT VOYAGE

[8] Invitation from the Terror of Rocks!

There was a flicker of concern in his eyes.

Caesar and Brad walked toward the shore.

A massive pirate ship had just docked.

Behind Caesar, a group of young islanders followed, their footsteps clattering against the stone path. Among them was Rins, the same man who had fought Caesar just days ago.

Most of the island's strongest warriors had gathered. Many clutched weapons in their hands, their grips tight with tension.

"Pirates, don't even think about stepping into our town."

Rins placed a hand on the hilt of his sword. His burning gaze and firm stance formed a wall between the islanders and the invaders.

The others nodded in agreement.

"That's right! You'll have to get through us first!"

Caesar stood at the forefront, his expression unreadable.

The ship's hull cut through the water as it anchored. One by one, men with overwhelming presence stepped down from the deck.

Their auras weren't just strong—they were monstrous. Each figure was massive, exuding an intimidating pressure that suffocated those nearby.

Brad bit his lip, his hands trembling.

"They're... too strong. Caesar, are we really going to fight them?" he whispered.

Caesar glanced at him and responded in a low voice.

"It's not 'we.' It's me."

Then, his tone deepened.

"...And if we don't stand here, do you really think they'll just leave the island alone?"

The fighters behind him had already fallen to his strength before. If he faltered now, could he really expect them to hold their ground?

Determination burned in Caesar's eyes.

Brad was momentarily stunned, slowly grasping what Caesar meant by guarding.

Then—

They arrived.

Caesar looked up.

The first to descend was a peculiar man with a wild, octopus-like beard and an unkempt appearance. He looked disorderly, yet his presence was suffocating.

Even without knowing his name, Caesar could sense it—this man was the most dangerous person on the ship.

Each step he took felt like a crushing weight pressing down on everyone's chests.

It was almost unbearable.

Too strong.

Caesar clenched his fists, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

Then, as his gaze swept past the strange man, he caught sight of the figures following behind—

His pupils shrank sharply.

"Those guys...?"

A towering man with a cloth scarf wrapped around his forehead, a long chin, and a nagamaki strapped to his back—

Edward Newgate.

The legendary Whitebeard!

Beside him floated a golden-haired man, his coat billowing in the air as if gravity itself bent to his will—

Shiki, the Golden Lion!

And standing among them was a stunning woman with cascading waves of vibrant hair, her figure curvaceous and striking.

Caesar's breath hitched.

Charlotte Linlin—so young?!

Her beauty was undeniable. Compared to the monstrous "Big Mom" of the future, this version of her was unrecognizable.

And finally—

A towering warrior gripping a massive kanabo, his build already rivaling that of Whitebeard's—

Kaido.

Even as a young man, his presence was immense.

These weren't just ordinary pirates.

Two future Yonko. A legendary pirate from the old era. And others who would leave their mark on history.

Caesar's mind raced.

Could it be...?

A pirate crew seldom mentioned in the present day.

A crew that had once ruled the seas before vanishing under the weight of world politics and law.

A name that struck fear into even the strongest of pirates—

The Rocks Pirates.

Then, he turned his gaze toward the man at the forefront.

The one leading these monsters.

The legend.

The pirate who once sought to become the King of the World.

Rocks D. Xebec.

No one could comprehend the shock surging through Caesar's heart.

The legendary pirate stood before him, his presence towering and unyielding.

Rocks smirked, his gaze sizing Caesar up like he was inspecting valuable cargo.

"Oh? This kid's got a good face."

Charlotte Linlin's eyes twinkled with interest as she raised an eyebrow.

At the same time, Rocks activated his Kenbunshoku Haki (Observation Haki).

The moment he sensed Caesar's strength, his amused expression hardened.

"...Didn't expect someone strong to come from this tiny island."

He took a step forward, his smirk widening into something more sinister.

"How about it?"

His hoarse voice dripped with arrogance.

"Come aboard my ship."

The air around them grew heavier.

"My goal is to conquer the world. If you follow me, you'll have the chance to accomplish something great."

There was no doubt.

This was the infamous Rocks Pirates.

Caesar remained silent. His expression betrayed nothing.

He lowered his gaze slightly.

Rocks' brow twitched in irritation. His face darkened.

The fact that Caesar hadn't immediately leapt at his offer was an insult.

A suffocating aura exploded from his body.

A pressure that could shake the heavens and the earth.

Brad staggered back, clutching his head in pain.

"Argh... It hurts!"

The overwhelming force of Rocks' Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki) pressed down on everyone.

It was leagues beyond Caesar's own.

Without hesitation, Caesar stepped in front of Brad, shielding him from the worst of the pressure.

Rocks narrowed his eyes.

"You have two choices."

His voice was slow but filled with absolute confidence.

"One—join my crew."

"Two—die here along with your island."

As his words fell, his invisible Haki surged to an even greater level.

The sea behind them roiled violently.

Even the palm trees in the distant forest began to collapse.

"No..."

The sheer force of his presence was altering the very atmosphere.

The sky and earth seemed to shift in response.

[9] Rocks Pirates? Clash of the Conquerors!

The Rocks Pirates watched with amusement.

Charlotte Linlin traced her chin with her fingers, a playful smirk on her lips.

"A sixteen-year-old boy, huh? Pretty fresh."

She chuckled.

"Captain, don't go overboard. You might accidentally break him."

Caesar twitched slightly at her words, recalling the grotesque image of Big Mom in the future.

The contrast was... disturbing.

He couldn't even look at her properly.

Please don't become that, Linlin.

Shiki, the Golden Lion, snickered.

"Hah, don't cry if he dies, Linlin. Weaklings don't last long on this ship."

Wang Zhi folded his arms, eyeing Caesar with disinterest.

"Tch. The captain's standards sure are dropping."

Behind them, Kaido, still a trainee, leaned on his club. His gaze was filled with open disdain.

He muttered under his breath, dissatisfied.

"What's so special about this guy?"

He snorted.

"Weak."

Caesar's expression remained unreadable.

Rocks, growing impatient, scowled. His Haki surged again.

A suffocating pressure bore down.

Brad's body trembled violently.

"Ugh... it hurts!"

The islanders behind Caesar struggled to stay conscious. Their pupils dilated.

Then—

BOOM!

One by one, they collapsed.

The clash of Conqueror's Haki had begun.